Gouache Painting Workshop with Edward Sprafkin
Saturday, June 20th
10 am to 2 pm
$50 Members/$60 Non-Members
Gouache is a fun, portable, water-based medium that allows spontaneous painterly effects similar to traditional watercolor or allows thicker opaque passages like acrylic or oil paints. It is known for its vibrant color, matte finish, and reactivating properties, enabling edge control and corrections well after the paint has dried.
This workshop will start by understanding materials, mixing techniques, and brush handling—before moving into layering, opacity control, and how to harness gouache’s unique ability to reconstitute after it is fully dry. Students work from their reference or from photos supplied by the instructor.
Supply List:
Preferred is Winsor & Newton Designer Gouache but there are many brands available. Just make
sure that you always buy Professional Artist-Quality Paints. Note: Acryla-gouache is not
recommended for this workshop.
Colors: Suggested Palette of 12 colors. You are free to use your favorite colors too!
Permanent White (Big Tube – 37 ml 1.25 fl oz)
Primary Yellow , or Spectrum Yellow
Perm. Yellow Deep
Yellow Ocher
Flame Red, Primary Red, or Windsor Red
Permanent Alizarin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Ultramarine Blue
Windsor Blue
Windsor Violet
Brilliant Green
Perm. Sap Green – or – Olive Green
Palette: Butcher Tray 7.5 x 11 inches
Surfaces: There are plenty of surface options for gouache painting.
Fluid 100 Cold Press Watercolor Block 300 lb. sizes 5×7 up to 9×12.
Cottonwood Arts Cold Press Block 5×7 up to 8×10
Or, any cold press watercolor paper or pad will be suitable.
Brushes: I like Princeton and Robert Simmons brushes but any brand synthetic brush will work.
